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PESHAWAR: The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) holds the centre stage, changing directions of the game every now and then. In short, it is TTP’s sweet will that is holding the sway.

When it decides to hit and kill us, we bow our heads and get killed. When it decides to talk and kill us as well, we oblige: we fly our helicopter to North Waziristan to facilitate its emissaries to meet their bosses and at the same time we keep collecting corpses from Peshawar to Karachi.

And now when the state’s fighter jets and helicopters have conducted surgical air strikes targeting TTP’s sanctuaries, the terrorists announced ceasefire and we feel happy to oblige and live peacefully with them for the next one month.

Think the one month period in terms of the possibility: no bomb blasts and IED attacks. This has not happened for the past so many years. So we should be happy!

What is more interesting is the fact that the day TTP was about to make the ceasefire public in the evening, its operatives attacked polio vaccinators in Khyber Agency in the morning.

Question remains what will happen to families of thousands of civilians and soldiers killed at the hands of Taliban?

If the TTP bosses were giving serious thoughts to the idea of giving peace a chance, they should have postponed the Saturday morning attack in Khyber Agency.

But who cares? Ceasefire is the buzzword. The other catchphrase these days is ‘on the same page’.

Earlier, doubts were being spewed whether the civil administration and the military leaders were on the same page or not. Now, at least, the TTP bosses are on the same page with the government. We should feel happy. We are moving to the next page!

How many pages of this untitled book written with the blood of thousands of civilians and soldiers are left? No one knows.

What is more interesting is the fact that we are hurling praises on TTP for its commanders’ kindness to bestow us with a month long ceasefire. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Shah Farman was all in praise for the outlawed TTP for the generosity it showed.

He wants the federal government to reciprocate the terrorists’ seriousness by holding serious and sincere talks.

It seems he does not know that, on its part, the federal government is not likely to disappoint him.

But what would happen to the families of the 55,000 civilians and thousands of soldiers killed at the hands of TTP? This argument seems to be a spoiler. It would surely be portrayed by the PTI leadership and its cyber brigade as ‘negativity’ and an attempt to sabotage the prospects of peace.

But, this forms a legitimate concern for the families, who suffered human losses and have every right to see TTP acted against by the military and the judiciary.

Do we think we have paid them ample amount of money in compensation sufficient to shut their mouths and do not look down on us for playing ceasefire and peace with TTP’s murderers?

Our memory is deficient and objectives suffer from short sightedness.

We have forgotten that TTP killed 55,000 innocent Pakistanis and thousands of our soldiers.

We have also forgotten that TTP caused us $80 billion losses. It made us hostages in our own cities and towns by unleashing a campaign of fear and mayhem. It destroyed our children’s schools to keep us living with ignorance and illiteracy.

It bombed our mosques to deny us our right to pray and preach. It deepened the sectarian divide in the country by targeting and killing people belonging to the religious school of thoughts not of their liking.

They denied us our playing fields and made us to host cricket teams from other countries at London, Sharjah, and Dubai.

They sent us chilling videos of their hooligans playing footballs with the heads of our slain soldiers. They targeted our military assets and caused us billions of losses in dollars, destroying our expensive military hardware.

After TTP made public the killing of FC men kidnapped in 2010, prime minister and his cabinet colleagues gave impression that the peace talks and terrorist attacks could not go hand in hand.

And now, we are being bombarded with TV reports that contacts between the negotiators of the two sides continued during the period when there was a general perception that talks had been stalled to take the fight to TTP’s bastion.

Well, those drumbeating and hurling praises on TTP for announcing the ceasefire should not forget that there is an important but voiceless segment of the society that is unrepresented in the peace process.

These voiceless people happen to be the families, who lost their near and dear ones to TTP’s brutalities. We have no right to make deals with TTP at the cost of the victims’ families, denying them their right to seek justice and get their victims honoured by bringing those, who killed their sisters, mothers, fathers and children to the book.

On DawnNews

Comments (53) Closed

Naseer

Mar 03, 2014 07:30am

Government and people of Pakistan should be prepared for all kinds of retaliatory actions by Taliban. Following the example of Saudi Arabia, check posts should be made on every highway and every road connecting towns and cities, no matter how small or irrelevant the road may seem. Check posts should be on the pattern of a bunker which should be bomb proof, so only one or two soldiers who are checking the passing vehicles will be exposed, others will be safe inside but ready to take action should the need arise. Seeing that they cannot cause too much damage, terrorists will be discouraged. People of Pakistan, politicians and army should be ready to brave the initial retaliatory attacks. Situation is likely to deteriorate in the first three to six months due to Taliban

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Naseer

Mar 03, 2014 07:31am

Taliban problem cannot be solved in one day or one month or even one year. To root it out completely, it will have to be a long drawn out campaign. Unfortunately burying our heads in sand or delaying will only worsen the situation. A decisive action followed by dialogue is the only solution. Dialogue will not succeed until the Taliban are made to realize the might and will of the people, army and politicians of Pakistan. Media has an important role to play. Situation in Pakistan is much worse than 1965. In 1965, Pakistani

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Nawaz Sharif

Mar 03, 2014 07:34am

Interestingly it is the PML N government that has declared a ceasefire, but according to Intikhab Amir, it will be the PTI leadership (and trolls) that will portray any criticism of the deed as promoting negativity.
.
Interesting. Very interesting.

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Chaigram

Mar 03, 2014 07:53am

A short and excellent description of the current state of our nation. Our politicians are hell bent to please our masters in Saudi Arabia. It's a shame that nothing is done and nothing can be done. Payout in $$$ can keep so many mouths shut while the interest of the nations are ignored. Shame

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KKK

Mar 03, 2014 07:54am

looks like the author is not very happy with peace. Maybe wars pay better than peace.

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Feroz

Mar 03, 2014 08:01am

The nation has every right to criticize the TTP for the murder and mayhem unleashed against innocent civilians and the State. However should not those who created these monsters for devious purposes be targeted ? If the masterminds of these misadventures are allowed to go scot free they could well be encouraged to come up with schemes and policies that are as dangerous and hair brained.

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Bipul

Mar 03, 2014 08:28am

Absolutely right. Peace talks with people who have killed thousands itself seems flawed.

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ahmad

Mar 03, 2014 09:05am

Well written. Being a Pahtun and affected by the terrorists activities badly, i fully support the stance in this article. Time for the state of Pakistan to act against the criminals. PTI is apologetic to TTP out of fear.

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Abuzar

Mar 03, 2014 09:24am

Those who believe that dialogue with Taliban is eminent and Taliban only want sharia.
Only speaks because they have either not lost any loved one or not threatened by such extremist jihadist.
or sympathizers believe what Taliban are doing is right.

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Omer

Mar 03, 2014 09:35am

TTP is playing mayhem and govt is playing politics. The surgical strikes were highly accurate and successful, else these terrorists wouldn't even have shown this ceasefire facade!

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GM

Mar 03, 2014 09:45am

Million dollar question is WHY does Govt. and some other political parties have soft spot for terrorists.

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imran

Mar 03, 2014 09:57am

TTP has shown no mercy on innocent people and security guards of Pakistan. why we should do the same. We have good army,with strong people. why we must care about these stone aged narrow minded criminal organisation. we are muslims and a true muslim does not fear anything but Allah.
isolate them in their areas. cordon off such epidemic area from rest of Pakistan. bring them to justice. i dont understand why our military intelligence cannot undertake secret operations against mullah fazal,shahidul allah, and other media men of ttp.
we must raise voice and hands against this evil.

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Nomi

Mar 03, 2014 10:05am

Enough is enough, Pakistan army should eradicate these criminals using name of islam to disguse.....................................................

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Faisa

Mar 03, 2014 10:08am

Totally agree with the article. There will be no peace until
and unless each and every one of these killers are eliminated.

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ahmed

Mar 03, 2014 10:20am

I never thought I would live to see the day when Pakistanis would shamelessly beg for peace from the jahil, lying murderers of 60,000 innocent people.

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Sialkot wala

Mar 03, 2014 10:38am

There is a very incompetent PM in office.
Surrounded by a corrupt inner circle.
Strictly concerned with their welfare only.
Then comes Punjab's welfare. The rest,..on their own.
The military is a third rate mediocre army. With
no plans, no policy, riddled with terrorist sympathizers.
Who aid and divulge any plans or actions to the terrorists.

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Sri Lankan Muslim

Mar 03, 2014 10:45am

Shame on the government for falling into Taliban trap. They will learn the lesson of its life. Taliban call for ceasefire only when it is cornered. All the hard work and the sacrifices of the armed forces in vain. Be prepared to get killed once again by the brutal and brainless Taliban!

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sabeeh omer

Mar 03, 2014 11:19am

This chilling truth could not have been better phrased. The author has expressed the feelings of millions of Pakistanis in the most appropriate language. The Taliban's offer of a month's cease fire is just to regroup after their losses at the recent strikes by the Pakistan Armed Forces. Once they have recovered, then there will be the same destruction in every nook and corner of Pakistan. I fail to understand when our politicians will grow up!

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khalid sheikh

Mar 03, 2014 11:35am

Well written by Intikhab Amir.What a true picture.The least the Govt can do is let the people know whats going on behind the curtain.How can murderers sit down with the Govt to make deals.

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Zia

Mar 03, 2014 11:47am

While I read this article and fully agree with the contents - there has been a dastardly attack in Islamabad, killing a sessions judge and ten others
This should be posted to PM and interior minister and its bunch cohorts
Army should fulfill its national obligation and protection of the country - its now call of the hour

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OZwizard

Mar 03, 2014 12:57pm

Pakistan is reaping why they have sewn decades ago. ISI trained terrorist groups to weaken their neighbour India but unfortunately (for Pakistani people) the plan has backfired. I hope the politicians realise now what they have done to their own country and the world is watching. My prayers with the families who have lost their loved ones in this brutality against humanity.

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Qasim

Mar 03, 2014 01:24pm

Wishful thinking to believe that these savages with twisted minds can be made to understand peace and peaceful means. They only understand one language i.e. dandaa.

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Intikhab

Mar 03, 2014 02:14pm

@Nawaz Sharif:
because Mr Shah Farman, KP information minister belonging to PTI, said so at his Sunday press conference.

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Haji Sohail

Mar 03, 2014 02:43pm

The govt failure to protect the country and inability to deal with terrorists make our head bow with shame in the world. Like feeble cowards they beg terrorists.

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Haji Sohail

Mar 03, 2014 02:48pm

A clear block emerging: China, Russia, Venezuela, Iran etc and then you have US, Europe, Israel, Saudi. Time to decide whose side we are on.

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SYEDA SARA BATOOL

Mar 03, 2014 04:24pm

very awesum article...every word of this article has truth in itself....we cant sell blood of innocents pakistanis we dont want talks....we want justice just justice like """khoon ka badla khoon""""

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Nite Joker

Mar 03, 2014 05:59pm

Bravo!

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ivehadit

Mar 03, 2014 06:25pm

Why not also add our appeasement politicians stopped the one thing the TTP is truly afraid of: drone attacks.

Pakistani's are finally waking up to the real enemies in our midst. All the talk around foreign conspiracies just shows the hollow intellect of the thought leaders our country allows to dominate our politics and airwaves.

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Dr Qureshi

Mar 03, 2014 06:31pm

Historically Pakistan has been very relaxed about its northern and western borders. However the equation altered drastically when US decided to invade Afghanistan following 9/11. It has been a very irresponsible act of negligence on the part of the Pakistan Government ever since. US interest over rode the security and sovereignty of Pakistan. Rather than take adequate measures to uphold the security of the state our leaders have been falling backwards to facilitate the US war. During the last 13 years we have seen massive leaps in the level of corruption in Pakistan. Sadly this corruption has seriously compromised the security of the state. Foreign funds, ammunition and enemy agents have flooded the country .. All because our rulers have been focussed on self promotion and massing personal wealth. Musharraf was a fool but Zardari and Nawaz Sharif have been deliberately taking advantage of the situation. Both of them have piled up enormous wealth since 2008. Someone should do a small check on their assets and correlate it with the downfall of this country!! The TTP is nothing but the result of negligence and corruption. The politicians have only their personal interest in focus.. they have moved far away from the interest of the state and the nation. Who knows TTP may be good for the Politicians!! They have something to use as a diversion from extreme poverty and power
shortage in the country!!! The nation has been cornered and we do not even know the agenda of the lofty arrogant politicians on the one hand and the tyrant TTP on the other. Where are these two forces leading us???

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Ali

Mar 03, 2014 07:27pm

TTP wants to buy time to regroup. Our politicians are giving them time-out find out some other way to come up with different strategy . Wake up PML-N. Keep attacking them.

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Munda

Mar 03, 2014 08:48pm

If the Taliban want a cease-fire that's fine. We should give them one. But only in the tribal areas. The should be given one week to "pull back" all their troops to "their territory". After which any Taliban or Taliban sympathizer found in the "settled areas" should be treated as an enemy spy and shot. This will enable the government to contain the problem to an area where it can be felt with.

No ceasefire should be declared in any other part of Pakistan.

Sorry, tribal area people. These are your "guests". You deal with them.

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Karachi Wala

Mar 03, 2014 09:47pm

@KKK:

"looks like the author is not very happy with peace. Maybe wars pay better than peace."

You got it all wrong. The truth is, the 180 million people of Pakistan are sick and tired of the excuses after excuses being made by PML-N, PTI, our own so called ulema / mullahs/ religious leaders who, after each atrocity committed by these savages, come up with a new set of excuses to justify their barbaric acts and keep insisting on negotiations. In a nutshell, people of Pakistan want and demand an end to this fraud called peace process and TTP and all like minded be eliminated. And by the way what all this KKK ( ku klux klan ) is all about?

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Mohammed Ali

Mar 03, 2014 09:53pm

@Ali:
PML-N is not asleep, they know TTP needs time to regroup and they are deliberately giving them time to do so.

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pathanoo

Mar 03, 2014 10:21pm

AND, DANCING PERFECTLY; I MAY ADD.

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Imran Ahmed

Mar 03, 2014 10:21pm

The time to start talking to TTP will be when they have surrendered their arms and renounced violence as a means to achieving political ends.

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M Aslam

Mar 04, 2014 12:23am

@Imran Ahmed:
When TTP surrender then what talk you want to do with them?

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N0_MERCY

Mar 04, 2014 12:24am

The tTP and all its affiliates need to be "liquidated" without mercy. No talking just "kill all these terrorists fro once and for all.

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M Aslam

Mar 04, 2014 12:26am

@Ali:
Your hero Mush attack them for 10 years (Although he was the creator and administrator of TTP), what did you achieve. Then for 5 years PPP was doing the same thing, what was the result. Now let the new government do it at its own and wait for the good results.

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asad

Mar 04, 2014 12:42am

Excellent article. Initially, Govt tactfully misused two words "Ceasefire & Negotiation" here comes another word rather phrase "On the Same Page". It shows the political inability of the present leadership which is either frightened of terrorists or totally unclear about the way ahead. this is so ridiculous and poor on their part. Only disappointments. . .

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Ayesha Khan

Mar 04, 2014 12:57am

Thank you dear author for informing us about the criminal activities of the TTP, we never heard about them before. The government and other authorities are certainly dancing, and the public sounds like a broken record.... For God's sake stop repeating yourself

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zia

Mar 04, 2014 06:44am

Please do not allow this 1 percent of butchers to dictate lives of 99% of pakistanies...every one need to be united as one nation to save their futures ....people have sacrificed enough and no need to back off now

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malik

Mar 04, 2014 07:02am

@M Aslam:
uhh coffee anyone?

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malik

Mar 04, 2014 07:05am

@GM:
I don't have million dollars. Ask IK or NZ.

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Agha Ata

Mar 04, 2014 08:32am

Who will pay for the thousands of children and innocent women and men killed by TTP? Have they ever thought that when it all over, and they are subdued, what will happen to them? But they seem to be so stupid they don't think they will ever be subdued. ha ha ha !

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Zaheer

Mar 04, 2014 10:42am

It amazes me to see how a bunch of medieval thugs, with limited education, without any civic sense, knowledge of economics, and above all without any idea of governance, in a modern world, have reached such a stage of importance

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tariq

Mar 05, 2014 12:27am

@Munda:
excellently said

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umair

Mar 05, 2014 01:59am

Our leaders have not seen deaths in their families so they don't realize how painful it is to lift our loved one and take them to graveyards. Everybody knows that Taliban's demands will be unacceptable by people of Pakistan but intellect of our leaders are below knees. Taliban will regroup and emerge in this time frame.

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Kulsoom

Mar 05, 2014 03:13pm

And Karachi, what's been going on there? Do we need an operation there too, like the one in Waziristan? How long before the likes of you start claiming that TTP is the reason for never-ending deaths in Karachi?!

Instead to imposing the TTP thappa to all, we have to find out if there are any who are willing to lay down arms, which is possible only through talks. Go only after the ones who refuse to do so.

The people of Waziristan, the ones who are still ALIVE and SUFFERING the most need a voice. Stop imposing senseless wars on them!

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arun

Mar 05, 2014 03:40pm

If you insist that a god exists and will promise an infinite time in a paradise , then dont be surprised that those who are ignorant will take you at your word and insist on laws being changed so that his will can be forced on humans on earth.

Best is for Pakistan to become secular and its people go back to being Hindus.

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faisal

Mar 05, 2014 10:41pm

@arun:
You were going well until you chose to go down to "becoming hindu again" path.

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Last Word

Mar 05, 2014 11:03pm

TTP is playing the role of a pied piper enticing the mice to fall into deep seas. The civilian govt is like a headless chicken who is groping in the dark not knowing how many groups of TTP are interested in talks. Such directionless talks would make no headway and end up in failure with more killings of the innocent people.

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Shaikh Mohommd

Mar 06, 2014 12:34am

What is important to note is that the Government of Pakistan has embarked on a peace process which I welcome and support strongly. I wish to draw attention of those who disagree with the peace talks. Can you tell me how long the war against "terrorists or Taliban, etc. should continue? Should we not consider the moral and spirit of our Pakistan Army. After all, they are on the front laying down their lives. Shouldn't we consider their lives as precious and bring this whole saga of war to an end? Please please look at other situations in the world. USA also withdrew after negotiation from Vietnam. It is also withdrawing from Afghanistan. I say to Nawaz Sharif "Continue the peace talks, come what may and bring this war to an end - Pakistanis will be thankful to you and remember you forever"

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Concern Muslim

Mar 06, 2014 05:56am

@Zaheer:
Zaheer sahib, why are you bothering our dear leaders with so many questions. There are wealthy, easy going, protocal loving bunch of people. There are not even aware that it is the first and foremost duty of the government to protect lives, property and honour of its citizen without any reservation or concession. May Allah have mercy on pakistanis